Are We There Yet? A Guide to Weird America

By Andy Simmons

That’s one big tater tot!

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there,” sang George Harrison. And should you find yourself lost in America, chances are that road will take you someplace wonderful and bizarre.

If you’re lucky, the skies might open up while you’re in Leroy, New York, forcing you to take refuge in the Jell-O Museum. Ever thought about visiting Blackfoot, Idaho? You should. The largest baked potato you’ll ever see is there. Granted, it’s made of concrete. So what? It’s huge, and it’s a tribute to all those spuds that over the years have sacrificed themselves for our taste buds!

You’ll find these and much more at Eccentric Roadside, which lovingly chronicles oddball Americana. A bit of warning: If you happen to be driving through Unger, West Virginia, don’t be alarmed if you see massive Muffler Man or Bob’s Big Boy-type statues peering over the treetops. George and Pam Farnham bought one years ago and haven’t stopped stocking their property with others.

As the site’s proprietor, writer/artist Gunnar Johnson, says of Unger, “It’s not the easiest place to get to and not exactly on the way to anywhere (‘Honey, I’m going to the Colossi … you need anything?’), but that makes it all the more meaningful when you arrive.”